I know that this was a recycled "Star Trek II" idea, and I kept on wondering how Ilea (who originally took Counsellor Troi's role) and Dr McCoy would have handled the situation. Still, whoever was in it, it was a half-baked idea handled very badly. The 'plasma plague' side-plot was even sillier, when they could have come up with a more scientific explanation for it. The episodes' one redeeming feature is that it gave us a good look at the improved and updated Enterprise, which I suppose is more like the ship we are used to, so feels much more like the ship we know. Then there are all the personnel changes, especially the introduction of Dr Pulaski and Guinan. Pulaski is interesting, because she is unusual in being a shortish, middle-aged woman (not often seen as regular characters), and a very believable character (very much like many hospital consultants). The mysterious Guinan is one of my favourite characters, and I'm glad she stayed to the end of the series. Still, this is not really relevant. Overall, not a good episode. Probably it seemed like a good idea at the time . . .